Acoustic resistor for hearing improvement and audiometric applications, and method of making same

Abstract

An acoustic resistor or damper and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The damper has mesh material and mounting material attached to the mesh material. The mounting material defines an open region for transmission of sound through the mesh material, and has a mounting surface for mounting the damper on a surface surrounding an acoustic port or tube. The mounting surface is located on a plane different from the mesh material, thereby shielding the mesh material from adhesive applied between the mounting surface and the surface surrounding the acoustic port or tube.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:  
     
       1. An acoustic damper comprising: 
       a mesh material; and  
       a mounting material having at least one inner surface, a top surface and a mounting surface, the top surface of the mounting material being attached to at least one side of the mesh material and being generally perpendicular to the inner surface, the inner surface of the mounting material defining an open region for transmission of sound through the mesh material, and the mounting material having a thickness such that the mounting surface is located on a different plane than the mesh material and such that adhesive used on the mounting surface does not affect the open region.  
     
     
       2. The acoustic damper of  claim 1  wherein the mesh material comprises one of cloth, metal, polyester, nylon and silk. 
     
     
       3. The acoustic damper of  claim 1  wherein the mounting material comprises at least one of foam, double-sided tape and emulsion. 
     
     
       4. The acoustic damper of  claim 1  wherein the mounting material defines an approximately circular open region. 
     
     
       5. The acoustic damper of  claim 1  wherein the mounting material defines an approximately rectangular open region. 
     
     
       6. The acoustic damper of  claim 1  wherein the mounting material is mounted on only one side of the mesh material. 
     
     
       7. The acoustic damper of  claim 1  wherein the mounting material is mounted on both sides of the mesh material. 
     
     
       8. An acoustic damper comprising: 
       a mesh material; and  
       a mounting material having first, second, third and fourth surfaces, the first surface being attached to the mesh material, the second surface defining an open region for transmission of sound through the mesh material, the third surface comprising an outer surface of the acoustic damper, and the fourth surface comprising a mounting surface of the acoustic damper.  
     
     
       9. The acoustic damper of  claim 8  wherein the mesh material comprises one of cloth, metal, polyester, nylon and silk. 
     
     
       10. The acoustic damper of  claim 8  wherein the mounting material comprises at least one of foam, double-sided tape and emulsion. 
     
     
       11. The acoustic damper of  claim 8  wherein the open region is approximately circular in shape. 
     
     
       12. The acoustic damper of  claim 8  wherein the open region is approximately rectangular in shape. 
     
     
       13. The acoustic damper of  claim 11  wherein the second surface defines an inner diameter of the mounting material, and wherein the third surface defines an outer diameter of the mounting material. 
     
     
       14. An acoustic damper comprising: 
       a metal disc having a plurality of perforated holes defining an open region for transmission of sound through the metal disc; and  
       a mounting surface, the metal disc being formed such that the mounting surface is located on a plane that is different than, and generally parallel to a plane where the plurality of perforated holes are located.  
     
     
       15. The acoustic damper of  claim 14  wherein the metal disc is formed using a photo etching process. 
     
     
       16. An acoustic damper assembly comprising: 
       a hollow body piece having a mounting surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining an acoustic pathway in the hollow body piece; and  
       a damper piece mounted to the hollow body piece, the damper piece having mesh material and mounting material, the mounting material being attached to the mesh material and defining an open region for transmission of sound through the mesh material, the mounting material having a mounting surface that is generally perpendicular to the inner surface of the hollow body piece, the mounting surface of the mounting material for mounting with the mounting surface of the hollow body piece, the mounting material and hollow body piece being adapted for insertion into an acoustic opening such that sound may travel through the acoustic opening, the acoustic pathway in the hollow body piece, and the open region of the mesh material.  
     
     
       17. The acoustic damper assembly of  claim 16  wherein the hollow body piece is comprised of molded plastic. 
     
     
       18. The acoustic damper assembly of  claim 16  further comprising adhesive located between the mounting surface of the hollow body piece and the mounting surface of the damper piece. 
     
     
       19. The acoustic damper assembly of  claim 16  wherein the mounting surface of the hollow body piece is located on an end of the hollow body piece. 
     
     
       20. The acoustic damper assembly of  claim 16  wherein the mounting surface of the hollow body piece is located inside the hollow body piece.